Producer of Netflix Three body problem found poisoned

[mellosouls]

I think it's a bit early to be assuming Chinese oppression tactics (though understandable).

Incidentally, this book seems to have some sort of cult critical status; I personally found it very poorly written, despite the original ideas in the plot.

I hope Netflix are able to turn it into something much better in their translation to the screen.

[geertj]

I personally really enjoyed the writing. As others mentioned, TBP was written in Chinese by a Chinese author. I imagine most people here read the translation, as did I. After just a few pages it becomes immediately clear that you’re reading a work written from the perspective of a different culture. This gave it a genuine ring to me, and once I adjusted my perspective I really enjoyed it. The storytelling, historical setting, and assumed knowledge of world history all reinforce this. It would not have been possible to translate this book and turn it into something that appears to have been written by a western writer. I’m happy the translator didn’t even try and went for authentic instead.

Edit: be more concise

[isoprophlex]

I also don't get the cult status. The setup in the first book is pretty engaging, the trisolarians are compelling antagonists, and i loved the power plays resulting from Dark Forest theory...

But the storytelling just falls flat in books 2 and 3, with the overlong story-within-a-story and the needless romance plot. The... relativistic stuff (lets call it that to avoid spoilers) at the end didn't do anything for me at all, and just felt tacked on to wrap up storylines i didnt care about in the first place.

Could have been 50% shorter imo.

[mattacular]

I've only read the first book (the English translation) and thought the writing was fine? I believe the translation was done by the author's brother. Really enjoyed the book but don't see how they'd turn it into a compelling tv show.

[triplesex_]

Perhaps you think the book poorly written due to the fact that a translation of the original work was read? Or did you, in fact, read it in the original Chinese? Also, I doubt very much that Netflix shall produce something worth my time . . .

[tyingq]

This article mentions "mycotoxins" as a potential accidental toxin in this type of tea: https://www.californiateahouse.com/tea-blog/hidden-danger-in...

[yannikyeo]

The trilogy book are best-seller in China and the first book wins the Hugo Award in 2015. That's what get people in US interested.

[blackrock]

It was written in Chinese. I doubt you read it in Chinese.

Hence, it was poorly translated. Which is a different problem.

To be fair, I also thought that the translation was terrible. The essence of the work gets lost in translation. But the ideas inside it, were gold, and quite creative.

[BugWatch]

Considering the utter hack job and the travesty that was the last season (and a half?) of Game of Thrones, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss really are not any kind of a selling point for me personally. I'm still incredulous it got made and released in such state. So, frankly, it's quite the opposite. What's the visual equivalent of "not touching something with a 3.048 meter pole"? "Not observing a thing with a fiber-optic cable"?

I jest, sure, but that bitter mental taste in my brain still remains.

[rkachowski]

This is some pretty crude wallbreaker strategy.

[nkurz]

How does this series relate to the film and other series that have previously been announced?

As far as I can tell, there is a movie by Yoozoo that was finished in 2015 but never released: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three-Body_Problem_(film)

There is a Chinese produced series made by Tencent that (I think) is still in production: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/china-t...

And there is also an animated series by Bilibili that is scheduled to come out in 2021: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/18/c_138564215.htm

Is the Netflix version additional, or a replacement for one of these?

[mrbonner]

I read 20 pages into the kindle ebook but gave up the first book of the series. I know the story/plot is quite good according to the reviews and whatnots. But the whole writing style is not very elegant and hard to follow. I am not sure if it is because of bad translation.

[reedf1]

Given the subject matter of the books - I wouldn't want to touch the production of these. And that's sad.

[jml7c5]

This seems a bit too conspiracy-minded. The article notes that it's likely a colleague who poisoned him.

Besides, why would the Chinese government go down that route when they already have the power to censor and direct the production?

[AznHisoka]

Can you summarize what would make these books so sensitive/controversial?

[2Gkashmiri]

I... attempted to read the three body problem. I got as far as the obervatory I think. It was like a year ago. I has exhaused because listening would make me fall asleep and then I would have to find the last remembered position... dang. It was long.

Edit: a scene where someone comes out of an obervatory or what was it.....

edit 2: why is this being downvoted.... i wrote an observation, didnt offend anybody, what??

[jgwil2]

I haven't downvoted you, but if you want an honest answer, it's probably because people see this comment as low value. People generally upvote comments that contribute to the discussion. This comment doesn't address the article or really say anything beyond, "I didn't like this book."